We bumped into Graeme Buscke during the bike check-in at the 2014 Datev Challenge Roth and we selected him for a random age group interview. This Kiwi now resides in the UK and runs a sports holiday company, and while they have spots available on a variety of trips, I appear to be blacklisted.
Slowtwitch: Hi there
Graeme Buscke: Kiaora [Maori greeting]
ST: You grew up in New Zealand, but reside in the UK now. When did you make that jump?
Graeme: I jumped about 8 years ago. It was only meant to be for couple of years but I didn’t realize what a jumper I was.
ST: How is your prep going for Ironman Barcelona?
Graeme: Barcelona? Oh that’s right. I feel mentally detached from getting up for another Ironman at the moment. I know it’s just around the corner but seeing all the ‘normal’ people in the UK enjoy summertime makes it tough to refocus. Physically I’m good but I need to steal my motivation from the training partners I’m latching onto.
ST: Will that be your third long course race this year after Nice and Roth?
Graeme: Yep – three less than last year! Last year I did Ironman South Africa, ITU Long Course in Belfort France, Challenge Roth (DNF, long story!), Ironman UK and Kona. This year I’ve decided to just chill out and take it easy with the three.
ST: Was the Nice start in June your first time on that course?
Graeme: A massive bucket list event for me. I’d heard of the climbs in Nice and after spending two months in the Pyrenees and Alps I thought I’d bounce over those Cols. I was quickly shot down by some kamikaze Europeans who managed avoid crashing their bikes, despite almost everyone else that day, and still find the run legs to stay away.
ST: Do you enjoy descending in general?
Graeme: Love it. I find it a real art particular on a TT bike with a disc wheel! Like transitions, I practice a lot of technical descending. I find most triathletes don’t put enough attention on this. Having raced a few guys from Nice in the past around my ability on the bike, I took almost 5 minutes back off them, which I lost in the hills, on the 40 km decent into town. Key thing here is sacrificing fewer watts in the process.
ST: You recorded a 9:23:52 and how did that measure up to your expectations?
Graeme: Albeit 10 minutes slower than I’d hoped for, I had a good finish to the day running a 3:03 marathon. Any other year on that course would’ve had me back on the plane to Hawaii. The standard in age group Ironman racing has massively improved - which is great. It motivates me to get raise my game to stay in touch with these athletes.
ST: So Kona was the target?
Graeme: No, Kona was not the target this year. I’m still recovering from last year! The plan has always been to race well in Barcelona and set up with a year to plan towards Kona 2015. I was fried in Kona last year and if I’m going to spend all that money again I want to make it count.
ST: How much faster do you think you can go, and where would those improvements be?
Graeme: If the gods are on my side I think I’m good for a sub-9hour race. I don’t know if my mindset will change after that, and if I could go even faster. I’ve got a lot of improvements due on my swim and I know I can get faster on the bike.
ST: Roth was just a few weeks later. Why did you pack these events so tight together?
Graeme: Roth was entered as a fun Iron distance event to do three weeks after Nice. Well you could exchange the word fun for redemption really. Last year I set my expectations high and went out hard. Somehow while enjoying the beauty of the German countryside I decided I hadn’t had enough and started my 3rd of two laps on the bike. 190 km into the ride I knew my day was over. I DNF’d to save my legs for IMUK three weeks later. It was a blessing in disguise as I won my AG but I still needed to go back to Roth this year to settle up my tab.
ST: Are you now riding with some kind of display that shows you distance?
Graeme: I normally only monitor my power on rides and look at all the other data later on. I like to be in the moment and get a good feel for my effort I’m putting out. I’ve been burnt too many times in races when technology has failed me!
ST: I believe your goal in Roth was to go sub-9.
Graeme: It was before this marshmallow man got news of a 37degree [Celsius] high forecast. I metabolize fast and struggle in the heat. My plan didn’t change though, and I went out managing to stay on sub-9 pace up until the 15km mark of the marathon. The wheels came off but the German spectators insisted my walk for home was turned into an acceptable jog.
ST: Were you offered any beer or brats along the run course?
Graeme: Too many! I love my beer so I use it as a good motivator to get to the finish faster!
ST: What do you do as a day job?
Graeme: I threw in my ‘day job’ 6 years ago and started a sports holiday company. I like to call it a lifestyle although it’s full on! We do running, triathlon and cycling holidays in Portugal and France. I’m fortunate enough to spend my time with positive outgoing people doing what I love. The reward for me is changing peoples perceptions on training and seeing them develop in the sports. My old day job couldn’t bring me that.
ST: Can you tell us about your old gig?
Graeme: I wouldn’t bore you with it. I made someone else rich and wore a suit all day. Now I’m in a different material suit but unfortunately without the money.
ST: Do I understand it correctly that in your current job you get to train many hours during the day and visit beautiful places, and get paid?
Graeme: Haha, I can see how it looks from the outside, but I assure you it is a 12 hour day and I don’t get to do my own training. I used to get more focused training in when I had a routine job and could do my own thing. I wouldn’t change it for the world though. I love what I do.
ST: Is there anything else we should know?
Graeme: Not really – unless I can do a shameless little plug for my running & triathlon holiday company – www.embracesports.co.uk - If you’re thinking of coming Herbert, we’re fully booked that week. ;-P
